USS John S. McCain, equipped with the Aegis combat system, had been on its way to a routine port visit in Singapore after patrolling in the South China Sea. Shipping data showed the Liberian-flagged merchant vessel Alnic MC was also on its way to Singapore when the ships collided east of the Strait of Malacca at 5:24 a.m. local time, while it was still dark.

Alnic MC is a 600-foot oil and chemical tanker with a gross tonnage of 30,000. None of its crew were hurt in the incident. The vessel's position at 6.58am Singapore time was at latitude 1.42018 and longitude 104.4326, according to VesselsValue.

The U.S. Navy said the warship had “sustained damage to her port side aft” in the collision with the Alnic MC east of the straits of Malacca and Singapore. The breach “resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery, and communications rooms,” the navy added. The U.S. warship had returned “under its own power” to Singapore’s Changi Naval Base, where it had been due for a routine port visit.

Search and rescue efforts are underway in coordination with local authorities. In addition to tug boats out of Singapore, Republic of Singapore Navy Fearless-class patrol ships RSS Gallant (97), RSS Resilience (82), RSN helicopters and Police Coast Guard vessel Basking Shark (55) are currently in the area to render assistance. MV-22s and SH-60s from USS America are also responding.

This incident is the second collision involving a ship from the U.S. Navy’s 7th fleet in the Pacific in two months. Seven sailors died in June 2017 (all of whom drowned in their berths) when the Yokosuka-based Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Fitzgerald and a container ship named ACX Crystal collided with each other in waters just south of Japan. The commanding officer, executive officer and senior non-commissioned officer of the USS Fitzgerald have been removed from their duties for cause amid the fallout surrounding the deadly collision. The final investigation into the collision is currently ongoing.

NOTE: This is a developing story, stick with IndraStra Global for the latest updates on-air and online.